230 Fifth

It is no surprise that 230 Fifth is a hit with tourists. Its has the best view of the Empire State Building of any bar in New York. It is also enormous, and can usually accomodate everyone descending on it from France and New Jersey; only on weekend nights in summer is there a line and the bouncers start becoming selective. Management makes a concerted effort to keep the dollars rolling in during the winter: on cold days, there are more heaters than patrons and everyone is offered a red cloak, creating a scene that looks like an afterparty for extras on the set of the Lord of the Rings. In addition to the massive rooftop, there is also an indoor "penthouse", with equally spectacular views, that focuses primarily on private parties. 230 Fifth is worth checking out for the view, but we encourage our readers to party elsewhere.